I'd like to just ignore this one because I think it's silly to think that there's some kind of massive pressure on the Celtics to win. Especially with the majority of media, and in particular in and around Boston, has counted them out and diminished a lot of what they've accomplished so if anything they're still playing with a chip on their shoulder. But it would be a massive disappointment to lose in round one again, so there's gotta be some pressure there.

2. Their best player is the worst point guard in the NBA in Real Defensive plus-minus.

This is definitely one of the C's biggest achilles heels. While IT pours it in offensively every night there's no 2nd option they can reliably count on. There's nights when the whole offense is rolling and a bunch of guys land in double-figures scoring. Sometimes the bench comes through with some points with somebody like Gerald Green or Kelly Olynyk providing some offensive punch from the bench, but there's no consistency there. The Celtics are tough to defend when the offense is rolling and they have a lot of options to score, but there's absolutely no #2 option that can find his own shot consistently.

As for the outside shooting, I think the entire league is relying on those and that's not particularly an issue with the Celtics as a team. I would like to see them work that ball into the post more through Al Horford. I think with Robin Lopez being the Bulls biggest threat on the glass it's important to attack him as much as possible to try and get him off the floor via foul trouble.

4. Jimmy Butler is the best player in the series.

This is true, but even though I think Butler has the edge here I don't this is some kind of lopsided mismatch in terms of the best player on either team. Their offensive outputs are comparable, but obviously Butler gets the edge as he's a terrific defender as well. Their stat lines for game one are eerily similar, but if we're gonna kill Isaiah for his defensive analytics he should get credit for his game 1 +/- :

5. Danny Ainge decided to sit pat while Toronto, Cleveland, and Washington all made upgrades at the trade deadline.

Riiiight, but what does that have to do with a 1st-round upset from Chicago?

The Celtics should still win this series: They are deeper, more reliable, more explosive, and they possess home-court advantage.

Maybe the C's don't have home-court anymore, but I'm not getting worried unless they lose again tonight. Big game for sure against the TNT Bulls later today, but I expect a better effort from a team that was reeling on Sunday night after the loss of Chyna Thomas. As much as the grief was weighing on IT Sunday night he was able to come out and rally himself to control his emotions, but it likely had a big effect on his teammates as well. With a few days to gather themselves the Celtics will hopefully come out with some conviction and pick up Isaiah instead of the other way around for once. I fully expect them to do that and to come out on top at the end of this series too, because they are the better team.